Project aiding jobless to be enlarged

Cassidy Leaf (centre) with some of the project team involved in supporting participants through the 12-month GROW programme.

A trial approach to addressing youth unemployment in Northland is to be expanded.

GROW, a pilot government programme which focuses on supporting 16- to 24-year-olds not in employment, education or training into growth industries has just completed its first year.

The Growing Regional Opportunities through Work programme works by creating stronger links between employers and young people and saw 34 young Kaikohe people start their journey a year ago, when they embarked on a four-week development course, focused on self-growth, goal setting and CV development.

Since that time a third of the participants are now employed in, or training for, a career in the primary industries in Northland.

At a celebration in Kerikeri on February 23, success stories and lessons learned from the programme were shared with Ministers Steven Joyce and Anne Tolley and an announcement was made that the GROW pilot will be expanded this year to go Northland-wide, with a target of helping 500 young Northlanders into work or training.

One of the success stories from the pilot is Cassidy Leaf who has been working at a Silver Fern Farms abattoir in the Hawke's Bay for several months.

He described the programme as life-changing.

"I was feeling pretty lost," the 24-year-old said, who recently relocated to Hawke's Bay to be closer to his young family. Originally from Waima, the proud father of two says the initial four-week intensive work ready programme, called "Kode", helped unlock his abilities and encouraged him to do better than what he'd been doing in the past.

"I just needed that extra hand. My kids [aged 6 and 1½] were my main motivation.

"If you ever want to get anywhere in life, the GROW team are the kind of people you want to be around," Mr Leaf said.

"Those times when you felt like you were at your lowest or weakest point, you'd see them and they'd make you think anything was possible".

He said his main goals after the programme were to get a job, save some money, get a car and give his children the things he never had growing up, like having their father around.

"That was my main reason to move to the Hawke's Bay, because I wanted to be there for my kids. GROW made it possible to support my kids."

He recommends the programme to anyone looking for a change in their life.

Mr Leaf said he was working "hard out" and had a goal to move back home [to Northland] in 10 years.

"I already know the house I want to buy, near where I grew up," he said.

The GROW programme stemmed from the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan - which focused on promoting growth in the region.

The agencies supported and mentored the GROW participants and their matched employers and educators over the past year.

"Twenty-one per cent of Kaikohe youth are not in employment, education or training," said Ben Dalton, the senior regional officer leading the Government's involvement in delivering the Tai Tokerau Northland Economic Action Plan. "GROW is about starting to shift that 21 per cent into employment in growing industries in Northland."

Mr Dalton said with the help of the programme and wider support from Northlanders - these young people had overcome significant challenges which found them in very different life situations just a year ago.

"Along the way, we have celebrated their many 'wins', whether it be learning to, and wanting to, care for themselves; setting goals for the future; taking leadership roles in their community and even family environments; going drug-free; working towards a drivers' licence or simply just being able to talk about how they are feeling.

"These are all wins, and while they may not be recognised as measurable outcomes they are critical steps to creating a positive future."

Mr Dalton said GROW was included in the Tai Tokerau Action Plan because increasing the skills and capability of Northland people was crucial for achieving economic growth.

"As businesses grow in the North, we need local workers ready and able for employment and we are working with those businesses to provide the support they need so they can hire skilled Northlanders."